Madagascar has approximately 14 Millions inhabitants
The Madagascar people is composed of 18 ethnic groups(refer to the map) situated in the following areas of Madagascar :
Antefasy : East coast, Farafangana
Antemoro : East coast, Mana Kara
Antesaka : East coast, Vangaindrano
Antambahoaka : East coast, Mananjary
Antankarana : North, Diego Suarez
Antanosy : South, Fort Dauphin
Antandroy : Sud, Ambovombe
Bara : Centre-South, Ihosy
Betsileo : Fianarantsoa
Betsimisaraka : Tamatave
Bezanozano : East, Moramanga
Mahafaly : Sud-Ouest, Betioky and Ampanihy
Merina : Antananarivo
Sakalava : West, Tuléar to Nosy Be
Sihanaka : East, Ambatondrazaka
Tanala : Forest area of the East
Tsimihety : North Zafisoro and East Farafangana
People of african- malayo-indonesian descent, mainly black and mixed and of arabic descent have lived in the coastal areas. However, the population of Madagascar is remarkably homogeneous in terms of language. The majority speaks the Madagascar national language, French being the second language.
Indo-pakistani and chinese immigrants have settled all over the island and have taken a prominent position in the field of trade.
The population is 14,061,627 inhabitants(July 1997 estimate)
Madagascar is a developing country whose chief exports are vanilla, seafood, coffee, clove, essential oils and textiles.
Tourism is the second source of income. 80% of the Madagascar people are farmers and cattle breeders.
Madagascar is quite wealthy in the field of mineralogy and precious stones with the largest sapphire deposit in the world.
Telecommunications have made striking head-way over the last fours years in Madagascar; hence the cybercafés housed in several main towns.
